Inside: Women Behind Bars : Behind Closed Doors of Notorious Women's Prisons

THE INCREDIBLE NEW BOOK FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORS OF INSIDE BROADMOOR AND INSIDE WAKEFIELD PRISON

'Women's prison is a very dark place. Not much light coming through the bars.'

Rose West, Myra Hindley, Joanna Dennehy...

Women who were locked up for their sadistic crimes.

But what does the prison system really look like for women?

From the bestselling authors of Inside Broadmoor and Inside Wakefield Prison comes the definitive book on the women's prison estate, revealing a system in crisis, beset by widespread self-harm and scarce resources. Yet it can be a place of sanctuary from the outside world, too. With a trademark blend of exclusive access, staff testimony and prisoner revelations, Inside: Women Behind Bars is a visceral, shocking and moving examination of the routine and regime behind bars - from mothers and contraband to friendship and sex - revealing women's prisons as places of rehabilitation as well as violence.

From Holloway to New Hall, Bronzefield to Peterborough, Britain's prisons have housed, and still host, some of the world's most infamous female offenders, including serial killers, poisoners and paedophiles.

With eye-opening stories about the most notorious prisoners in recent history, as well as insight into the daily life of the most troubled and high-risk female inmates, Inside: Women Behind Bars offers a rare and revealing glimpse into the realities behind the headlines.

Author: Jonathan Levi and Emma French

True stories, True crime, Police & security services

Published on 18 Jun 2026 by Bonnier Books Ltd.